What I think some aspiring producers can benefit from is a hybrid setup. Software is great for sequencing and controlling, even sound design. There are software effects that cannot be achieved with hardware economically, or at all. However, one should also recognize that certain pieces of hardware have unique character, effects, bit sampling rates, filters, and other biases that cannot be replicated by software. In an era of McProducers where anyone can learn the techniques, one shouldn’t lose passion for the quest of sonic identity, of having a signature sound, of exploring new interesting sonic textures (see Theo Parrish). Otherwise production will go the way that DJing has, where easy-to-use software with ultimate power and instant gratification has made life easier but also undermined the quest for finding one’s musical identity.

That said, people should do what allows them to get the music in their head onto a track with the least resistance.